Propeller.



G. A. SMITH, J. ELBROOKS, G. E. BOWMAN & H. H. SLEPPY.

PROPBLLER. APPLICATION FILED AUG. 14, 1912.

Patented A r. 1, 1913.

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UNITED STATES PATENT o EioE.

GEORGE A. SMITH, JOHN E. BROOKS, GEORGE E. BOWMAN, AND HAYDEN H. SLEPPY, 0F WILMINGTON, CALIFORNIA.

PROPELLER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Apr. 1, 1913.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, GEORGE A. SMITH, JOHN E. BROOKS, GEORGE E. BOWMAN, and HAYDEN H. SLEPPY, citizens of the United States, residing at YVilmington, in the county of Los Angeles, State of California, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Propellers, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to propellers of the reciprocating type, and comprises a pair of leaves or blades pivoted together and connected to the end of a reciprocating rod, such as a piston rod, and provided with braces which cont-r01 the opening and closing of the blades or leaves.

Means are also provided for reversing the action of the propeller, by shifting the relative position of the devices which control the opening and closing of the blades.

In the accompanying drawingsFigure l is a perspective view of the propeller. Fig. 2 is a top view. Fig. 3 is a vertical longitudinal section. Fig. 4 is a perspective elevation.

Referring specifically to the drawings, 6 indicates a rod which may be reciprocated by any suitable means. This is connected by a fixture 7 to the hinge pin 8 connecting a pair of leaves 9 preferably disposed in vertical position, and capable of being folded in either direction with respect to the axis of the hinge. The shaft 6 may, if desired, project beyond the propeller blades in order to provide a stern bearing at 27, see Fig. 4.

A guide sleeve 10 is slidably mounted on the rod 6 and has flanges 11 at each end to limit the movement of a collar 12 slidable on the sleeve. Springs 13, resting against the flanges 11, serve to cushion the impact. The collar 12 is connected by brace rod 14 to the leaves 9, with pivotal connections at both ends of each rod. A rod 15 is attached to the rear end of the sleeve 10 and a clutch block 16 is fixed on the rod 6 and has jaws 17 between which the rod 15 extends, with a screw 18 connecting the jaws drive the boat forwardly, the backward thrust of the rod 6 will cause the leaves 9 to open, the collar 12 sliding backwardly on the sleeve 10 until it is stopped by the spring 13 and flange 11 at the end of" the sleeve distant from the blades, at which time the blades will be in open position, and further thrust of the rod will cause the driving efiect. In this action the sleeve 10 is set relatively toward the rear or outer end of the reciprocating rod, and the blades open and close, as indicated in Fig. 2.

To reverse the propeller, the sleeve 10 is drawn inwardly by means of the rod 15, on the rod 6, and then when the driving rod is thrust outwardly the leaves will fold, and

when drawn inwardly the leaves will open.

In both actions the rod 15 is clamped by the screw 18 to the blocks 16 and the shaft, so that it travels with the shaft, the collar 12 sliding back and forth on the sleeve 10 to the limit of motion in either direction.

We claim as new:

1. A propeller comprising, in combination, a reciprocating rod, a pair of folding leaves hinged thereto, a collar circumjacent the rod and having connection with the leaves, means on the rod to control and limit the movement of the collar, and reversing means having connection with said collar controlling means for adjustably positioning the same.

2. A propeller, comprising in combination a reciprocating rod, a pair of folding leaves hinged thereto, a collar circumjacent the rod and having connection with the leaves, means on the rod to control and limit the movement of the collar and a reversing rod connected to the said collar controlling means for adjustably positioning the latter with respect to the reciprocating rod.

3. A propeller comprising, in combination, a reciprocating rod, a pair of folding leaves hinged thereto, a sleeve adjustable on the rod, said sleeve having stops at the ends thereof, a collar slidable on the sleeve sleeve, to shift the same along the reciprobetween the stops, braces between the coleating rod, and a clamp for connectlng said lar and the leaves, and means to clamp the reversing rod to sald reclprocatlng rod.

sleeve to the rod at desired position.

4. A propeller comprising, in combination, a reciprocating rod, a pair of folding GEORGE E BOWMAN leaves hinged thereto, a sleeve adjustable HAYDEN SLEPPY on the rod, said sleeve having stops at the ends thereof, a collar slidable on the sleeve,

between the stops and connected to the leaves a reversing rod connected to the l/Vitnesses VICTOR GARCIA, Gno. C. F. GANNAWAY.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the "Commissioner of Patents, Washington, I). C. 

